Load generation device for a powder module of an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects

Abstract

Load generation device (15) for a powder module (3, 4) of an apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which powder module (3, 4) comprises a carrying device (11) with at least one moveable carrying element (13) with a drive device (12) adapted to drive the carrying element (13), wherein the load generation device (15) is separably connected or connectable with the powder module (3, 4) or the apparatus (1), in particular inside a process chamber (10) of the apparatus (1), wherein at least one load generation unit (18) is adapted to apply a force on the carrying element (13), wherein at least one force component is applied in the movement direction or against the movement direction of the carrying element (13).

1 . Load generation device ( 15 ) for a powder module ( 3 ,  4 ) of an apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which powder module ( 3 ,  4 ) comprises a carrying device ( 11 ) with at least one moveable carrying element ( 13 ) with a drive device ( 12 ) adapted to drive the carrying element ( 13 ), wherein the load generation device ( 15 ) is separably connected or connectable with the powder module ( 3 ,  4 ) or the apparatus ( 1 ), in particular inside a process chamber ( 10 ) of the apparatus ( 1 ), characterized by at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) adapted to apply a force on the carrying element ( 13 ), wherein at least one force component is applied in the movement direction or against the movement direction of the carrying element ( 13 ). 
     
     
         2 . Load generation device according to  claim 1 , characterized by at least one position determination device ( 21 ) adapted to determine a position and/or a travel path of the carrying element ( 13 ), in particular relative to an initial position of the carrying element ( 13 ). 
     
     
         3 . Load generation device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the at least one position determination device ( 21 ) is built as or comprises at least one
 optical determination unit, in particular as laser interferometer, and/or   capacitive determination unit and/or   inductive determination unit and/or   mechanical determination unit and/or   ultrasonic determination unit and/or   eddy current determination unit.   
     
     
         4 . Load generation device according to  claim 1 , characterized by a holding unit adapted to hold the at least one position determination device ( 21 ). 
     
     
         5 . Load generation device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) comprises at least one
 hydraulic element and/or   at least one pneumatic element and/or   at least one mechanic element, in particular a spindle drive.   
     
     
         6 . Load generation device according to  claim 1 , characterized by at least one load determination unit ( 22 ) adapted to determine a load applied onto the carrying element ( 13 ) via at least one load generation unit ( 18 ). 
     
     
         7 . Load generation device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) is connected with a positioning device ( 17 ), in particular comprising a spindle drive, adapted to position the load generation unit ( 18 ), in particular relative to the carrying element ( 13 ). 
     
     
         8 . Load generation device according to  claim 1 , characterized by a control unit ( 23 ) adapted to control the load applied onto the carrying element ( 13 ) via at least one load generation unit ( 18 ). 
     
     
         9 . Load generation device according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the positioning device ( 17 ) is adapted to position the at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) dependent on the load applied onto the carrying element ( 13 ) that is controlled via the control unit ( 23 ). 
     
     
         10 . Load generation device according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the positioning device ( 17 ) and/or the control unit ( 23 ) are adapted to control the force applied via each load generation unit ( 18 ), in particular adapted to match the force applied via all load generation units ( 18 ). 
     
     
         11 . Load generation device according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the control unit ( 23 ) is adapted to control the force applied via at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) dependent on a preset parameter, in particular dependent on a powder chamber volume ( 24 ) and/or a build material parameter, preferably the density of the build material used in the powder module ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         12 . Load generation device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the load generation device ( 15 ) comprises four load generation units ( 18 ), preferably arranged symmetrical with respect to the carrying element ( 13 ). 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, which apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a powder module ( 3 ,  4 ) comprising a carrying device ( 11 ) with a drive device ( 12 ) adapted to drive a carrying element ( 13 ), characterized by a load generation device ( 15 ), in particular a load generation device ( 15 ) according to  claim 1 , separably connected or connectable with the powder module ( 3 ,  4 ) or the apparatus ( 1 ), in particular inside a process chamber ( 10 ) of the apparatus ( 1 ), which load generation device ( 15 ) comprises at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) adapted to apply a force on the carrying element ( 13 ), wherein at least one force component is applied in the movement direction or against the movement direction of the carrying element ( 13 ). 
     
     
         14 . Method for operating at least one load generation device ( 15 ), in particular a load generation device ( 15 ) according to  claim 1 , for a powder module ( 3 ,  4 ) for an apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional which powder module ( 3 ,  4 ) comprises a carrying device ( 11 ) with at least one moveable carrying element ( 13 ) with a drive device ( 12 ) adapted to drive the carrying element ( 13 ), wherein the load generation device ( 15 ) is separably connected or connectable with the powder module ( 3 ,  4 ) or the apparatus ( 1 ), in particular inside a process chamber ( 10 ) of the apparatus ( 1 ), characterized in that a force is applied onto the carrying element ( 13 ) via at least one load generation unit ( 18 ), wherein at least one force component is applied in the movement direction or against the movement direction of the carrying element ( 13 ). 
     
     
         15 . Method for operating at least one load generation device ( 15 ), in particular a load generation device ( 15 ) according to  claim 1 , for a powder module ( 3 ,  4 ) for an apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional which powder module ( 3 ,  4 ) comprises a carrying device ( 11 ) with at least one moveable carrying element ( 13 ) with a drive device ( 12 ) adapted to drive the carrying element ( 13 ), characterized by the steps:
 the load generation device ( 15 ) is connected to a powder module ( 3 ,  4 ), in particular inside a process chamber ( 10 ) of an additive manufacturing apparatus ( 1 )   a force is applied onto the carrying element ( 13 ) of the powder module ( 3 ,  4 ) via at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) of the load generation device ( 15 ), wherein at least one force component is applied in the movement direction or against the movement direction of the carrying element ( 13 )   a position and/or a travel path of the carrying element ( 13 ) is determined for at least one position of the carrying element ( 13 ), preferably in a loaded and an unloaded state   the load generation device ( 15 ) is disconnected from the powder module ( 3 ,  4 ), in particular removed from a process chamber ( 10 ) of the additive manufacturing apparatus ( 1 ).